Thanksgiving Basket Brigade Kick-A-Thon, a national project to raise money and deliver Thanksgiving dinners with all the trimmings directly to needy families in the surrounding areas, took place at Hicksville's Martial Arts America on Nov. 17. Each kick a student did was sponsored and money was raised to purchase Thanksgiving baskets to those less fortunate. This annual event at the school raises awareness and gives the students an opportunity to give something back to the community.

Thanks to the success of this annual event, parent volunteers from the Hicksville dojo made 100 Thanksgiving dinner baskets, which included bread, homemade baked goods, beans, corn, cranberry sauce, gravy, a roasting pan and all other items necessary to make a fantastic dinner plus a $15 gift certificate to Johns Farms in Plainview, who also helped sponsor the event. Proceeds from the kick-a-thon went to support parish outreach services at both St. Ignatius Loyola and Our Lady of Mercy.

Marital Arts America students, who ranged in age from 5-13 years old participated in the event. The goal for students 7 and older was 1,000 kicks while students 6 and under set out to perform 500 kicks. It took about an hour and a half to complete all the kicks. Congratulations to 6-year-old Brandon Smith who, alone, collected $500 and was named 2007's top fundraiser.